The publication also recognized the firm’s latest artificial intelligence innovation — an AI digital assistant named “Fenni”— as the top innovation in the Business of Law: Technology category. Fenwick was also commended for its use of Kira — a legal-industry AI platform — that automates aspects of document review in M&A deals, saving time.

“Fenni is an easy-to-use interface to one of several AI technologies we are leveraging for even higher levels of efficiency, something we’re always focused on doing at Fenwick,” Pine added.

Ask FenniThe firm’s AI digital assistant — Fenni — empowers Fenwick team members to more quickly and easily gather information, saving time and increasing efficiency. Moreover, Fenni can initiate workflows such as scheduling meetings or booking a visiting office, as well as deliver answers. Rather than spending precious time searching the firm’s intranet, emailing colleagues for information or performing repetitive tasks, Fenwick lawyers and professionals can now use natural language to type or speak their questions into a web browser, mobile app or smart speaker.

Fenni Stands Out Among 2018 Innovations
In its profile of Fenni, the Financial Times noted that the digital assistant “searches the firm's intranet, document management, sales and human resources systems to answer frequently asked questions. The tool uses a mix of machine learning and human input to continuously improve the breadth and quality of information. It saves time and money for the firm and clients by streamlining administrative tasks, and collects valuable data to improve processes and workflows.”

“Developed by Fenwick Labs, the firm’s in-house technology team, Fenni uses natural language AI technology to map users’ queries to workflows built around its database of responses,” said Mark Gerow, Fenwick’s director of application development and business process. “The system learns more with each new question, building its ‘knowledge’ along the way.”

Fenni is the latest in a series of significant AI initiatives the firm has launched. Other recent AI efforts include Kira, as well as CARA, an automated legal research assistant being used by the firm’s litigation practice.​​​​